General Information
Nahiya (Subdistrict)
Reco
Also Known As
Al-Sawan Al-Kabir, Çeqmaq Large, Çeqmaqê Mezin, الصوان الكبير, جقماق كبير, جقمق كبير, چقماق كبير, جقموقو مازن
Families, Clans, etc.
El Huseyn, Mala Ebbas, Mala Evdo, Mala Feteş, Mala Husên Reşkîlo, Mala Qirmo, Mala Se'dûn, Mala Seîd, Malê Şe'bû, Qember
Photos
Basic Information about Çeqmaqê Mezin
Source: Afrin 366
Etymology: Derived from Çaqmaq meaning flint, because the local stones strike fire
Other Landmarks: Kevirê çaqmaqî, Sûq
Summaries
I. Summary from TirejAfrin Site (English) of Çeqmaqê Mezin
Source: https://www.tirejafrin.com/site/kura%20afrin%20%20%20Reco%20-%20jaqmaq%20kaber.htm
According to the book جبل الكرد (عفرين) دراسة جغرافية Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study: Çaqmaq Mezin, meaning the Big Flint (Çaqmaq + Mezin). The village data includes 3270 inhabitants, 189 hectares of land, a distance of 5 km, and an altitude of 820 m. It is a large village located on the southern slope of a mountain height.
Oak forests are spread across the slopes, while olive and vine orchards cover the plain areas. According to the book عفرين .... نهرها وروابيها الخضراء Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills: Çaqmaq Mezin is a village in Çiyayê Kurmênc following the Reco district, Efrîn region, Heleb governorate. It is a large village situated in the central part of the mentioned mountain, on the southern slope of a limestone height furrowed by water channels. It overlooks agricultural lands with red soil from the eastern and southeastern sides. Oak forests are spread on the slopes surrounding the village from the northern side. It is located 5 km northeast of the town of Reco.
The village is bordered to the north by a high, rugged mountain range of rocks and oak trees, the mountain of Bilalîko, and the village of Bilalîko which is located at the highest peak of the mountain. To the south, it is bordered by a slope, a fertile plain planted with olive and vine trees, and the village of Cuncelî. To the east, there is a slope, a rugged mountain range, and the village of Cîlanlî. To the west, there is a watercourse, a rugged mountain range, and the village of Hecîmanlî.
The number of houses reaches 150, and the age of the village is approximately 500 years according to the account of one of the elders, evidenced by the presence of a very old mulberry tree in the center of the village near the mosque, which dates back hundreds of years. Its old dwellings are made of stone and mud with flat wooden roofs, while the modern ones are cement and extend towards the west and east, and to the north with difficulty in the form of terraces due to the rugged mountain of Bilalîko.
The village has an electricity network, a telephone network, a primary school, and a preparatory school, in addition to a modern mosque in the aforementioned village center. The village drinks from cisterns dug next to the houses where rainwater is collected in the winter season. The residents work in rain fed agriculture (olives, grains, legumes, vines, and fruit trees) on an area of 190 hectares. They also raise sheep and goats. A portion of the population works in the industry of making charcoal from oak wood. The village is connected to the district center by a paved road. There is also a modern technical olive press at the bottom of the village near the cemetery. Currently, a municipality building has been established there. This village is considered one of the old villages in the Reco district.
Among the holders of higher degrees in the village are: Hisên Şêx Qenber (PhD in Arts, Russia) and Xalid El Huseyn (PhD in Biopharmacy, in progress, Germany).
The village Mukhtar is Zekî Hesen Qember.
Sources of Information:
- Book: جبل الكرد (عفرين) دراسة جغرافية Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study by د. محمد عبدو علي Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî.
- Book: عفرين .... نهرها وروابيها الخضراء Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills by عبدالرحمن محمد Ebdulrehman Mihemed from the village of Qetme.
- Studies of Navenda Tirej Soft / Ebdulrehman Hacî Osman.
- Some residents of the villages.
Preparation and execution: Manager of Tirej Efrîn site, Ebdulrehman Hacî Osman, 20/12/2013.
II. Summary of Çeqmaqê Mezin from Afrin 366
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Vzy6kWai0
The documentary visits the village of Çaqmaqê Mezin, situated in the Raco district of the Efrîn region. According to the residents, the village is large, containing between 300 and 360 households. The name Çaqmaqa functions as a descriptor of the local geology; an elder explains that the rocks in the area are Çaqmaq (flint) and spark fire when struck. The village is located on high ground, which contributes to a climate described as cold and often covered in fog (duman).
Historically, the village is considered ancient (kevnar) by its inhabitants. An elder interviewed in the footage points out a tree that is over 100 years old but clarifies that the stone houses surrounding it predate the tree significantly. In the past, Çaqmaqê Mezin served as a local economic hub, possessing its own market (Sûq) and a bakery (firna). While the structure for the bakery remains, it is no longer operational, and the market no longer functions as it once did. The village is also noted for its olive (zeytûn) groves and forestry.
Regarding the social structure, the transcript identifies several specific lineages. An elder asserts that Mala Seîd is the foundational family of the village. Other prominent families mentioned include Mala Se'dûn, Mala Ebbas, Mala Evdo, Mala Feteş, and Mala Qirmo. The host also visits a humble household belonging to Malê Şe'bû, where a father cares for seven orphans and a disabled child.
The village maintains a connection to the Çaqmaqê biçûk village nearby. Many residents have emigrated to Elmaniya (Germany), but a significant portion of the original population remains. The documentary highlights specific individuals such as Fewzî, a blacksmith working in Raco, and Husên Reşkîlo. The host emphasizes the resilience of the community despite the harsh weather and economic difficulties.
Transcriptions and Subtitles
| Source | Video | Subtitles | Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afrin 366 1 | Watch Video | Download SRT | View Transcript |
Possible Village Name Meaning of Çeqmaqê Mezin
"Çeqmaq" is a Kurdish word meaning "flint stone."
Source: TirejAfrin Site